mission

24
Dec
2019

Building others up

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on November 19, 2017.

Building Others Up … Not Tearing Them Down

by Morgan Shevey

            If your family is anything like mine, the time when everyone comes home from school can be a tense situation as everyone gets used to living with one another again. The long vacations are often not harmonious as we all, myself included, criticize every little thing that does not happen to our liking. We send disgusted looks when someone wears a rather original outfit or sneak in a scathing comment when another family member does not sweep the floor well enough. Every single thing is seen as being wrong and is immediately subjected to judgment.
            The same issues often arise in the church, as we come into contact with individuals of different backgrounds and gifts. Again, we find ourselves judging others who do not dress up enough for services or have taken a completely different approach at conducting worship. What makes it worse is that most of this criticism takes place behind our fellow believers’ backs. Tearing down our brothers and sisters in Christ becomes our focus, rather than praising God. Our mission of spreading the gospel to all people cannot be accomplished if we are too busy nitpicking the actions of fellow members of our congregation. Instead, we are called to build each other up with encouragement, which will bring us much closer to a unified goal.

Negative criticism does not benefit anyone

            Judgmental criticism can easily become a sinful habit. Many people criticize and judge others because they think it will make them feel better about themselves. In reality, they remain just as empty inside. Being judgmental toward others cannot fill whatever void is inside them. A critical individual is only doing more and more damage every time they openly judge a fellow believer. People will be pushed away if we continually tear apart their opinions or ideas. We are told “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). We can reach more of our fellow believers by encouraging them in their work for Christ. They will be more responsive to our opinions and our teaching of the Word if we speak words of encouragement.

We do not know what others are going through in their lives

            We want to be careful about criticizing others, because we do not know what is happening in their private lives. Every Christian struggles with something. Even if they do not show it, it does not mean that there is not more going on in the background. Criticism can bring down their spirits and make it more difficult for them to trust the promises that God has given. Our judgment can block them from reaching out for help when they need it. “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbor for his goo to build him up” (Romans 15:1-2). Our role as Christians is not to elevate ourselves by tearing others down, but humbling ourselves to be servants to those who need it. Encouraging words show our love for others as well as our willingness to help them in every situation.

Everyone has gifts and talents that are worthy of praise

The God-pleasing lives that we do see deserve our honor and respect. God has bestowed the blessing of numerous talents and abilities on his people. These gifts exist to serve the church is a variety of ways and each person has a place in the mission of spreading the gospel. Instead of discouraging others from using their gifts because it’s “not the way we do things,” we seek to praise others for their humble service to the church. “Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). Recognizing the amazing talents of others compels us to use our own gifts to the best of our ability.  By encouraging everyone to use their abilities to the fullest, we, in turn, are encouraged to do the same.

We are only perfect through Christ

            While we strive to live according to God’s commands, we are unable to constantly resist temptation. No one is perfect, we all know this full well. Every single individual born into this world has inherited sin and is unable to keep from sinning on a daily basis. Our criticism of others is a perfect example of this. But why tear down others when we fall under the same temptations that they do and will be subjected to the same judgment by God on the Last Day? Only through faith in Christ can we be perfect in God’s eyes. Therefore, criticizing the actions of others is hypocritical, since our sins are just as numerous as those of any other Christian. Instead, we are invited to “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13).  Until the day that Christ takes take us home to heaven, we want to take every opportunity to build up our fellow Christians.

            Every day we are presented with opportunities to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. By working together and building one another up, the mission of the church can be carried out to all parts of the world. When we are tempted to criticize or judge others, we remember that Christ never judged us, but loved us enough to sacrifice himself for the sake of our sins. Our eternal judgment has been taken away forever because of our Lord. Through his gracious love, we have become his children, forever free from judgment. In his name, we seek to build one another up always, that we may continue to live in blessing under God’s almighty hand.
Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Between Worlds

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on July 8, 2017.

Entre Mundos

(“Between Worlds”)

Photograph and article by Nicole Wood, from travels in Peru


Concrete stairs. Barren walls. A dirt floor. A mostly empty room. Plastic chairs. A rickety table. An unadorned red tablecloth. Plain food – giant corn, baked potatoes, fresh goat cheese, warm milk. No utensils. Shared plates. A smartphone and a digital camera.


It felt off, this clashing of worlds. As I sipped from my mug and munched on salty cheese, the iPhone in my pocket felt more like a brick. I was on vacation with my Peruvian host family. That morning, we had ridden in a fifteen-passenger van to one of the remote villages in the mountains of Abancay. We were there to visit their family, people who did not even speak Spanish, let alone English. While our visit with them was brief, it greatly impacted me.

At this point in time, I had already been living in my small apartment outside of Lima for months. I had limited furniture, sporadic wi-fi, and a shower that often would stop working mid-shampoo. I naively thought I understood what it meant to live simply.

Yet, here were people surviving off of the food they grew and sharing padded cushions for beds on an earthen floor. They were so secluded that they only spoke the indigenous language of Quechua and rarely interacted with people outside of their village.

But, they had a church. They knew their Savior.

It was refreshing to be reminded of God’s blessings, both physical and spiritual. His message to me was clear – God will provide all that I truly need; physical blessings do not correlate to spiritual blessings. These villagers knew that, and they laughed and smiled with us despite our communication barriers. They were content with God’s grace.

And, as we left, an elderly farmer pulled out his flip phone to take a picture of us. 
Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Working together to further the church’s mission

by Dillon Solomon

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on March 24, 2017, this letter to a congregation addresses issues that can be seen in many Christian churches.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ’s church,

I hope this letter finds each and every one of you well! I thank God that we have the opportunity to be counted among the Lord’s believers and for all the blessings he has given us as a congregation.

Through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus, we have been made alive. Through that very same life, death, and resurrection we have been welcomed into the family of God and have been made part of the body of Christ himself. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Jesus Christ … Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:13,19). With this divine citizenship comes a holy unity, a bond that pleases God. In fact, he urges through the apostle Paul, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called” (Ephesians 4:2-4). We are called by the same gospel message to faith in the one true God.

Along with this spiritual unity, God desires unity within our physical church. We can take these same passages and apply them to our work as a congregation. We strive to be patient with one another in dissenting opinions and bear with each other in love when we face difficult decisions. Keeping this fact in mind will go a long way towards unity: each and every member of the congregation looking out for the best interests of the congregation and God’s universal church as whole. Every single member is integral to the success of the congregation, as every single member is a part of the body of Christ.

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:4-8).

Only through unity can we accomplish—to the best of our abilities—the mission God has placed before us.  We acknowledge that there will never be a truly perfect unity on this side of heaven. In spite of that, it is good to discuss things with one another, and even argue a little bit, regarding the best interests of the church, so that you can grow as a congregation. So I encourage you to keep working together towards a strong fellowship in Christ—a fellowship that allows for divergent opinions to converge into one mind, within the one body of Christ, as you work towards furthering Christ’s church.

Finally, brothers and sisters in Christ, I urge you not to become apathetic. We have a tremendous blessing from God by having easy access to his word. It can be easy to sit back and go through the motions of being a Christian or even to worry about our own internal struggles as a congregation. However, God speaks to us through the apostle James, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). Our works as are the beating pulse of our faith; they are the indication of living faith. It’s hard for us to put a sign of invitation out in front of our church if no one can feel the pulse of our evangelism. Jesus himself told us, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). But our reason for doing this shouldn’t be simply, “God commands it.” Instead, take a moment to think about what Jesus has done for you, all of the sins he has taken away, and how, now, you have a place reserved for you in the eternal bliss of heaven. Is that not an incredible feeling? How can we not want to share that feeling with others? And so I urge you, as redeemed children of God, take this feeling of joy and use it. Use it to embolden our evangelism efforts. Use it to tell that friend or coworker the simple, yet powerful, message of the gospel. Because sometimes that’s all it takes: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!

Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

An unchanging mission

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on December 17, 2016.

An unchanging mission

by John Wenzel

Much has happened in the last two millennia. Empires have risen from ash and then returned back to dust. Kings and lords have reigned, only to be burned in the fires of revolution. A new world was discovered and made into a land of the free. Wars have been instigated, fought, and ended, only for new ones to begin. Great feats of engineering have been constructed and marvels of science discovered. Humanity has taken its first steps off our planet. Indeed, much has happened. But one thing has remained constant through these great ages of war and discovery. Under the providence of the all-powerful God, the Christian church has remained ready to continue her great endeavor: to tell the world about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Since Jesus ascended to claim his rightful throne in heaven, this has remained the mission which he assigned to the church. Indeed, this arduous task has been our chief purpose in this world. There is no greater deed, in difficulty or satisfaction, than bringing unbelievers into the kingdom of heaven. It is difficult, because the entire world is aligned against your goal, yet it is easy, for we are only the messengers and the Holy Spirit is the true inspirer of faith. Likewise, there is nothing more satisfying than sharing the joy of Jesus with someone just saved from hell.

The apostle Paul understood this great task, as he traveled upon the dusty roads of Asia Minor, traveling village to village, preaching to unbelievers and encouraging congregations in their efforts. He valiantly preached and confessed the message of Jesus, under threats of violence and persecution, because he knew this was all that mattered – for to live or die in Christ is a victory.

Although the mission of the church has remained the same over all these years, her face has changed much. At the beginning, the small congregations of Asia Minor were atypical of their society. They were a small and extremely active community that practiced what it preached, helping the poor and the widows in this life but also preaching the message that would save you in the next. They recognized that their church must be a part of the community. If not, others would just see them as a cult. And so the churches’ secondary mission has been established. This mission is to adapt to best reach out to the community without betraying the word of God.

And so the church has changed much in physical form. From small vibrant congregations to secret enclaves, from majestic, splendid basilicas to rustic hardy wood buildings in the outposts of the frontier, the church has seen it all. Yet her duty remains true. Whether she is under persecution of state or atheism, or whether endorsed by the state itself, nothing has changed at all. Paul’s urgings for congregations to be bold in proclaiming the message of Jesus echoes only louder as the Last Day draws ever closer. Although the church has physically changed much, her spiritual mission stays constant.

With this on our hearts, we can only be encouraged to perform the mission of the church with more vigor than ever before. We do what martyrs have died to do and proclaim what people of all ages have proclaimed. The endless cycle of war shall continue. Civilizations will rise and once again fall back into oblivion. Generations shall live and die. But in a world of change, the mission of church under the omniscient God will never change.

Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Go and make disciples

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on May 30, 2016.

Go and make disciples

by Jacob Heyn

What is the mission of the church?  This question is simple to answer. Jesus himself gave us this mission when he said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  The Lord repeats the mission when he says, through the apostle Paul, that he “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).  Now, we might ask the question that Pontius Pilate asked Jesus (John 18:38): “What is truth?”  Jesus himself answered this question (even before it was asked) when he told Pilate that “everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37).  Truth is everything that Jesus tells us.  Everything that we read in the Bible is the truth that we are to share with the world.

As Christians, we have heard the message of the truth, the truth that both tears us down, but also builds us back up.  The truth hurts us by telling us that we are sinners and that there is nothing we can do to be saved.  It tells us that because of our sins, God is going to punish for all eternity in hell.  And yet the truth doesn’t stop there.  It tells us that despite all of our sins, God still loved us even though we messed up his perfect creation.  He looked at us in our sin and how we failed every day trying to earn our way into heaven, and he determined to do something to help us.  He didn’t want to send us to hell for all eternity; he wants us to be with him in heaven.  He did what no one else could.  He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our substitute.  Jesus, though he was tempted just as we are, lived the perfect life that we could not even dream of doing (cf. Hebrews 4:15).  He then willingly took the blame for all our sins, for all the sins of those who came before us, and for all the sins of those who will come after us.  He took the punishment that was meant for us and died for all our sins.  He didn’t do this for himself so as to better himself; he did this for us so that we could be with him in paradise.

And Jesus’ story didn’t end with his death.  After being buried in a tomb on Friday, on Sunday he rose from the dead, sealing his victory for us.  Because of his resurrection, we know that we will live again with him in heaven.  This is just amazing!  A God who is perfect and demands perfection—who is just, punishing those who deserve to be punished—chose to take our punishment, the punishment that we deserved, because he loves us so much.  Words cannot describe the feeling that one gets when hearing this message.  It makes one want to just tell everyone about it!  We just want to share this feeling with everyone we meet.  Jesus’ words, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” may seem like a command that one must obey, but it’s not like that.  His words give us a commission that we want to carry out, because the love that we receive from Christ through this gospel message is something that we are eager to share with the world.

Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Witnesses of the Ascended Lord Jesus

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on June 1, 2014.

Forty days after his resurrection from death to life, Jesus ascended again from earth up to heaven.  The following message was written when I had opportunity to serve as guest preacher for an ascension-themed service.  

Don’t Stand Around Waiting for Heaven to Happen
— Jesus Left Us Here for a Purpose

by David Sellnow

On the day of his ascension, Jesus was on the Mount of Olives with his disciples, and “he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts 1:9).  His disciples “were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go’” (Acts 1:10-11).

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I wonder:  Like Jesus’ first group of disciples who stood staring into the sky after Jesus had ascended from their view, do we spend much of our time as Christians simply standing and staring up at heaven?  We have a tendency to see Christianity as a waiting process … waiting for the end of time, waiting for Jesus to return, waiting for heaven to become our home.  That is the end goal of our faith, but let’s not overlook what comes before that.  If Jesus had nothing else in his plans for us except heaven in the end, he could take us to heaven right now.  He could have taken his original disciples along with him up to heaven on the very day he ascended above the Mount of Olives.  But our Lord had something else in mind for them, and for us.  He wants us to be his witnesses in this world.  While we wait for the future glory of being with our Lord there, above, we have something important to do here, below.  We have a mission to our neighbor.  We have a mission to the world.

Let’s look at what was said and seen when Jesus ascended back to heaven and learn some lessons about our lives in the here and now.  First, Jesus said to his disciples, “Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 1:4-5).  Now, of course, the disciples already had the Holy Spirit – and indeed the Holy Spirit was very much involved in the baptizing that John the Baptist had done at the River Jordan.  But to these men, his apostles, Jesus had promised an additional, special outpouring of the Holy Spirit – giving them supernatural abilities.  They would speak in foreign languages (without needing language training) and would even perform miracles.  God’s purpose was to accentuate and punctuate the message they were speaking in his name, to call attention to their message with special demonstrations of his out-of-this-world power.  But the main aim of the Spirit was always in the message itself (not merely in the miracles).   Still today and every day we have the main power of the Holy Spirit with us – the power to change hearts when we share the word of Jesus.  When we go out in our day to day lives as witnesses for Jesus, we do so with confidence knowing we’re not on our own.  Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), and also that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16 CEV) – given to us by the Holy Spirit.  As we live our lives and speak about Jesus, we have the power of the Holy Spirit empowering us.  We can be bold and outgoing.  We need not be shy or afraid.

But even as Jesus was speaking to his disciples about the power they would have from the Holy Spirit to go out into the community, out into the world, they were thinking of something else.  They asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)  The disciples of Jesus were still somewhat stuck in a view that was common to their culture.  They thought that the Messiah would establish Israel as his nation on earth and the people of God would live in peace and power there in Israel, separate from the other nations of the world.  We can be like that too.  We like to cloister ourselves in our small circles with one another as a Christian citadel, somewhere where we can feel safe.  But is that what Jesus has in mind for us as his disciples?  No.   We will find safety in his eternal kingdom at the end of time, but in the meantime Jesus wants us living our lives in the world, acting as influences on our neighbors in the world, reaching out and speaking out in his name.

Jesus said to his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  Notice the pattern which Jesus established.  First they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem – right where they were at that time.  Then their efforts would spread throughout their region – Judea.  Then to the next regional area – Samaria.  And eventually their message would be spread – not just by them but by word of mouth from person to person after starting with them – all the way to the ends of the earth.

So it is with us today too.   Jesus would say to us, “You will be my witnesses in your town or city, and in your state or region, and in the neighboring region, and to the ends of the earth.”  That doesn’t mean God expects each individual to become a world missionary and go to every place on the globe.  But he is commissioning each of us to be a witness to tell about Jesus’ love and forgiveness wherever we are living, all through our lives.  And through us one person after another will be influenced.  So every single Christian is a witness for Jesus in a constant, ongoing pattern of witness.

What will our lives look like if we are witnesses for Jesus?  I think sometimes we think about that in too complicated a way, as if you have to have a whole bunch of training or an official position as a pastor or teacher.  Certainly pastors and teachers do much outreach in the name of Jesus.  But when Jesus speaks of “witnesses” he means anyone who has seen, heard, experienced what the message of Jesus means and relates that meaning to someone else.  A good example would be a man whom Jesus had rescued from a plague of many demons.  He didn’t know much more about Jesus than that – that Jesus was the one who had saved his life. Jesus told him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19 CEV).

Being a witness for Jesus doesn’t have to be complicated.  You need not be an expert on every biblical doctrine.  You need not be a champion at Bible Trivia or know all the who’s who and what’s what of Bible history.  Certainly it’s good for you to read your Bible and become more familiar with the people and events detailed in the Bible.  But as a witness for Jesus the main thing is simply that you know Jesus himself.  You know that you are a sinner who so very much needed Jesus and needs Jesus, and that Jesus is so very much the Savior who has done for you everything you need.  And you simply live your life in acknowledgement of him, in confession of him.

On another occasion, Jesus said to his disciples, “All people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35).   A compelling way we can give a witness to others about the kindness and love of Jesus is to be kind and loving toward the people around us.   People won’t want to know about our doctrine if it seems we care about doctrine more than we care about them.  People won’t inquire about our faith and religion if we don’t seem inquiring or interested in them as people.  But when faith in Jesus makes our lives come alive, when the hope of Jesus is evident in our lives, when the love of Jesus is overflowing from our hearts, we open paths to connect with others with the message of faith and hope and love.

Jesus’ apostle Peter urged us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).  If our lives express hope, others will have a reason to ask us why we are so hopeful, and we will have opportunity to speak about Jesus.  If our lives display peace and contentment, someone may ask us, “How do you stay so calm and positive?” and we will have opportunity to speak about Jesus.  If our lives show love—unfailing love, unflinching love, love that keeps loving even when people are unlovable—people will wonder, “Why?”  And we will credit Jesus, for only he can fill us with such love.

My friends, disciples of Jesus, you are witnesses of the life and love and power of Jesus.  His life is what gives your life meaning.  His love is what moves your heart to love.   And his mission – to bring people to know about love and forgiveness in his name – is your mission.   So as his disciples, let’s not just stand around waiting for heaven to happen.  Don’t think of your faith life as something that happens just in church when you’re saying prayers and singing hymns.  You are a witness for Jesus wherever you are, whomever you’re with.  Live your life as someone knows and trusts Jesus.   Simply let others see “how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19).  And your Lord Jesus—who is in heaven but holds all power on earth and in heaven in his hands—will be with you always, in all you say and do.

Posted by Electric Gospel